Inmate charged for escape

The man who is accused of escaping Saturday from the Leavenworth County Jail has been charged with aggravated escape from custody.

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By John Richmeier

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By John Richmeier

Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 7:45 AM

By John Richmeier

Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 7:45 AM

The man who is accused of escaping Saturday from the Leavenworth County Jail has been charged with aggravated escape from custody.

Raheem K. Armstead, 29, Leavenworth, was taken back into custody Monday after he allegedly had run from the jail two days earlier while taking garbage to an outside trash receptacle.

Armstead made his first court appearance on the new felony charge

Wednesday.

According to County Attorney Todd Thompson, Armstead is reported to have indicated Wednesday that he was ready to plead to the charge. But the matter was continued until Friday so he could have legal counsel.

Armstead already has been sentenced to prison following an August conviction for possession of methamphetamine and other charges. But he's had two other cases pending in Leavenworth County District Court.

And now he faces the additional escape charge, according to court records.

Armstead had been a trusty at the jail, which is located at the Justice Center building in Leavenworth, and was assigned to a work force. Capt. Andy Dedeke of the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office said taking garbage to the outside receptacle had been part of Armstead's regular duties.

An officer was escorting Armstead when he allegedly ran Saturday.

Dedeke, who’s also the sheriff-elect, said the escorting officer didn't pursue Armstead because there were other inmates present who needed to be secured. The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. Saturday.

Armstead was taken into custody around 11 a.m. Monday at a residence in the 700 block of 13th Terrace in Leavenworth.

Another man was taken into custody at the same time. Undersheriff Ron Cranor said this man was arrested for obstruction for allegedly harboring an escapee.

Thompson said Wednesday that prosecutors were awaiting information about the other man's case before making a determination about charges.